Why Your Feminine Hygiene Products are (Probably) Killing You

November 24, 2016

We all know it comes like clockwork, that time of the month that we usually dread. Whether it be because of the pain, the costs of feminine hygiene products or just an irritating week of taming the red river (too graphic?)

In elementary school they teach us about menstruation and what a pad and tampon look like. The options like winged pads and absorbency levels, they even teach us about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) which could be a lethal side-effect to using these products during our menstrual cycle.

Isn’t it funny that we’re taught to reduce, reuse, recycle. Live a healthy lifestyle by eating our veggies and try and lessen our carbon footprint – but they don’t tell us about the options for organic and natural feminine hygiene products which are healthier for our bodies and the environment?

The Traditional Pad + Tampon

Tampons and pads that you can buy from the drugstore are not 100% cotton. In fact, they’re usually a mix of Synthetic ingredients, Cotton and Viscose Rayon. Rayon is a coarse fiber derived from wood-pulp. Rayon may increase the risk of scratching open the delicate skin and, in-turn cause very tiny cuts which allow openings for bacteria and other nasty chemicals to embed themselves – increasing the likelihood of getting TSS.

During the process of making traditional tampons, the fibers are bleached and treated with a handful of chemicals to perfume and increase absorbency. Pads or Tampons treated with perfume or fragrance can upset the balance of your body’s natural pH balance and can lead to an increased risk of a bladder or yeast infection. As long as you are changing your feminine hygiene products every few hours there should be no need to use a perfumed product.

Unfortunately, during manufacturing a lot of these toxic chemicals stay behind. The chlorine bleaching process (which makes feminine hygiene products white) leaves the worst offender; Dioxin. A carcinogenic chemical which can lead to other side effects like endometriosis, where tissues that should grow inside of the uterus spread to other parts of the pelvic region. Endometriosis can be very painful – here is a more in-depth description of endometriosis.

Now, health authorities in many countries have cracked down on Dioxin levels. Stating that Dioxin should not be in any feminine hygiene product. Luckily, this has lead to companies using chlorine-free bleaching methods. However, the FDA has stated that there can be trace amounts of Dioxin in tampons and pads from the cotton, and rayon fibers used.

The cotton that traditional pad and tampon companies use is not organic. Over 2 Billion dollars (and counting) has been spent on spraying cotton with pesticides in the US this year. More pesticides are used on Cotton than any other crop in the agricultural industry. Do you think that all the chemicals are washed out during the tampon + pad manufacturing process? No. So what is the alternative?

Veeda Natural Feminine Hygiene Products

Veeda produces natural pads and tampons from 100% cotton. During cultivation, the cotton is not sprayed with pesticides. The manufacturing process uses pure oxygen instead of the dioxin-causing chlorine bleaching process.

They offer a wide range of absorbency options – from light to super plus, just like traditional pad + tampon companies. However, these are entirely hypoallergenic. Vaginal skin is very permeable and can absorb toxins just as easily as ingesting them – so it’s important to make sure that you are using a product which is not laced with harmful chemicals, like Veeda.

To be honest, I would never go back to using traditional pads + tampons after making the switch to a menstrual cup and all-natural pads. It may be more difficult to source feminine hygiene products like Veeda because they are not at your local Walmart – but it’s healthier for your body and the environment. Win-Win, if you ask me.